Walker: You can stop the layoffs

posted at 9:30 am on March 11, 2011 by Ed Morrissey

Until the Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate resolved the standoff over the budget-repair bill with the fleebaggers, Governor Scott Walker had prepared layoffs for 1500 state workers, and perhaps many more after that had the impasse continued. Early this morning, though, Walker directed the two state agencies involved in the furloughs to rescind the notices that Walker had sent earlier, calling off the pink slips:

Gov. Scott Walker on Friday directed two state agencies to rescind layoff notices because the Legislature passed the budget-repair bill. …

“The Legislature helped us save 1,500 middle-class jobs by moving forward this week with the budget repair. The state will now be able to realize $30 million in savings to balance the budget and allow 1,500 state employees to keep their jobs. The reforms contained in this legislation, which require modest health care and pension contributions from all public employees, will help put Wisconsin on a path to fiscal sustainability.[“]

The fleebaggers lost an opportunity to ride to the rescue. Had they returned a few days ago and faced the inevitable, they could have claimed to do so in an attempt to rescue those workers targeted for layoffs. Now the Republicans can rightly claim to have used the opportunity to pass the bill in the manner they did to keep state workers from losing their jobs while Senate Democrats stayed on vacation in Illinois.

The vote by the Assembly also means Senate Democrats will soon return to the state after relocating to Illinois for three weeks in an attempt to block action on the bill. At least one Senate Democrat said he would come back to Wisconsin Thursday while others said they were still deciding when to return.

Sen. Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) said in a phone interview he was flying home to Superior with plans to drive to Madison on Friday and participate in the Capitol rally Saturday.

“There are no regrets with the decision or the stand we took,” said Jauch. “Some criticized us for weakening democracy. We strengthened democracy.”

But …

But even with the battle won by Republicans, a wider war now remains for both sides, one expected to be fought in the courts and through recall efforts against 16 state senators.

When Jauch returns, Senate Republicans could resurface the original bill and pass it, having the three-fifths quorum necessary to open debate and vote on the measure. That bill already passed the Assembly, and Walker could enact both. That would remove any legal impediment that might exist and make the court cases moot. Even though the amended bill passed, there’s nothing to prevent the legislature from passing the same statutory changes twice. If that happens, the game is entirely over for the Democrats, except for their long-shot recall efforts.

Update: Steve Eggleston says that the old bill is dead and can’t be resurrected, but I’m not so sure the fleebaggers believe that. There is no other reason for them not to have returned to Madison by now.

The fleebaggers may end up in Illinois for a very long time. They have no face-saving play left, and their return will mean utter defeat on all fronts.

So, Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) is coming back to WI…. but to participate in a rally against a bill he refused to WORK ON?!!! Is there any common sense, responsibility, even respect left at all? Does everything need to be hypocrisy and double standards? When did people get so irrational in this country? It seems it gets worse and worse each year.

I read it correctly.
There are still ‘free-unions’ and ‘collective bargaining’-the public sector leeches just can’t CB for benefits and if they want dues…the unions can’t expect the state to do their dirty-work for them. Next up for WISC should be making that state ‘right-to-work’.
Btw:Reagan would have SUPPORTED Walker’s actions.

I just did a Google search on that phrase, and got 42,100 results, 90% of them emanating from Leftwing blogs. And they all cherry-pick that single line, while ignoring what Reagan said just before those words:

These are the values that are inspiring those brave workers in Poland.

The values that have inspired other dissidents under Communist domination who have been willing to go into the gulag and suffer the torture of imprisonment because of their dissidence.

They remind us that where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost.

It’s pretty sad when the Left is reduced to quoting a man they have despised for decades to try and win political points.

Ah, how quaint. Socialist quoting Reagan in reference to his remarks about Solidarity and the “right” to freely associate.

I love when the leftists pull out that video of Reagan and claim it means Reagan supported public unions and the right to fleece the taxpayer.

That video of Reagan was in the context of Poland’s Solidarity movement. Which, ironically enough, was about people being forced into the Communist Party union and the worker not having any say-so over the ability to not belong. You know, sort of liked closed shop states. Ahem.

The idea that people can freely choose to associate is anathema to a closed shop state like Wisconsin. Note the key word “free” when referring to unions. The public sector unions in Wisconsin are not “free”. They’re forced participation if you choose to work in certain fields. So, it’s either change your profession or move out of state. Not quite the American freedom most people envision.

To even drag out the Reagan video in reference to the Wisconsin debate or any public sector union debate shows how far out of touch with reality leftists truly are. They hear what seems like tacit support for anything claiming to be a union and run with it. When in fact, that’s not reality.

Though, I do giggle when the unions themselves point back to Reagan and his firing of the air traffic controllers as the “beginning” of the union busting agenda from Republicans.

So, leftists want Reagan to be both the hero and the villian in their demise.

It’s pretty sad when the Left is reduced to quoting a man they have despised for decades to try and win political points.

Del Dolemonte on March 11, 2011 at 12:20 PM

Yes and it’s a talking point that’s being displayed prominently somewhere. I’ve had 2 of my liberal friends within the last 2 days send that video of Reagan’s speech to me.

And both times I had to educate them on Solidarity and provide the context of the speech. Then I had to explain how Reagan had to fire 11,000+ public sector union employees. And even banning them for life from service. (And yes, I know Clinton reversed that)

It’s so funny to watch a dog and pony show without real dogs or ponies.

What I suppose all of you fail to realize, given your responses to my post, is that all over the country, to varying degrees, collective bargaining is being curtailed. It is the expressed wish of most of you to see collective bargaining, and unions altogether, banished from the land. That is what you want, no matter how small the initial steps in Wisconsin. Own it. Announce it. Tell everyone. Don’t hide behind the fact that Wisconsin teachers can still bargain for wages, because in Ohio they will lose that privilege. You want to kill all unions, everywhere. This is why I posted that Reagan quote.

Seeing as the right has already just about killed the rest, what you’ve said is no different than saying “all unions, everywhere”. You support policies that hinder unionization, and when wages fall, you applaud. You want the worst for American workers, and you’re proud of it. Why not just say it explicitly? Why not just say, “Americans ought to get paid less, ESPECIALLY the people that secure our property and teach our children.”

What I suppose all of you fail to realize, given your responses to my post, is that all over the country, to varying degrees, collective bargaining is being curtailed. It is the expressed wish of most of you to see collective bargaining, and unions altogether, banished from the land. That is what you want, no matter how small the initial steps in Wisconsin. Own it. Announce it. Tell everyone. Don’t hide behind the fact that Wisconsin teachers can still bargain for wages, because in Ohio they will lose that privilege. You want to kill all unions, everywhere. This is why I posted that Reagan quote.

ernesto on March 11, 2011 at 12:38 PM

I disagree. I do not know a single friend of mine that wants to see private sector unions abolished. Not one.

I personally believe market forces work in regards to private sector unions.

The only thing I disagree with on private unions are closed shop laws. That I would like to see abolished. If someone “wants” to join a union, go for it. You have that right.

But for the state to have a law that forces you to join a union or pay an amount equal to union dues, I am firmly against that.

This is typical leftist talk. You jump to these drastic either/or arguments. If we want smaller government, the left claims we hate government and don’t want any government. False.

Same argument being used by you right now. And it’s false.

Forcing unionization is anti-American. Public sector unions are ludicrous because there are no market forces that can help shape how much power the union gets. It’s a circular bribery ring that escalates over time. Unending.

Seeing as the right has already just about killed the rest, what you’ve said is no different than saying “all unions, everywhere”. You support policies that hinder unionization, and when wages fall, you applaud. You want the worst for American workers, and you’re proud of it. Why not just say it explicitly? Why not just say, “Americans ought to get paid less, ESPECIALLY the people that secure our property and teach our children.”

ernesto on March 11, 2011 at 12:49 PM

I made more per hour at non-union Party City than I did at ‘union’ Jewel foods.
The working conditions were also better @ PC.

Seeing as the right has already just about killed the rest, what you’ve said is no different than saying “all unions, everywhere”. You support policies that hinder unionization, and when wages fall, you applaud. You want the worst for American workers, and you’re proud of it. Why not just say it explicitly? Why not just say, “Americans ought to get paid less, ESPECIALLY the people that secure our property and teach our children.”

ernesto on March 11, 2011 at 12:49 PM

Yes. Because the teachers, firemen and police in right to work states are lining up in the bread lines while everyone else is living in mansions and being driven around in limos.

You want to kill all unions, everywhere. This is why I posted that Reagan quote.

ernesto on March 11, 2011 at 12:38 PM

Public sector, yes. People who are paid by the taxpayer should get less money and benefits than said taxpayer. If they want a better job they can join the rest of us who’ve been looking for a while.

The private sector unions can sink or swim on their own. And the reason they happen to be sinking today is that they are not as necessary as they used to be. Unions caused a lot of worker safety laws being passed, and that’s great. They did their job. But they can’t see when enough is enough. They always ask for more. We have reached the point where there isn’t any more. Workers can see this, and would prefer not to pay dues to an org that can’t really help them anymore.

Get over your nostalgia for the good-old-days. Ty are gone and we now live in a global economy where union wages and benefits aren’t sustainable in the vast majority of industries.

Also they have started a FB page in support of businesses that have been black-listed by the unions and their supporters. If you are on FB please sign in for support. Also you can order products from some of these businesses online.

I looked up the phrase “stuck on stupid” and the definition said “see the troll ernesto at HotAir”.

Let’s repeat some facts that blow ernesto’s “talking points” out of the water:

– collective bargaining was not “forbidden” – it was abridged. The teacher’s union can still collectively bargain for wages.

– The budget repair bill in Wisconsin dealt only with PEUs, NOT private unions

– The budget repair bill in Wisconsin really only dealt with state teacher’s union(s). Police, fire & nurses are unaffected.

– Something like 24 states ALREADY disallow collective bargaining for PEUs (because, as it has been pointed how, how can an elected official fairly bargain when they have been given campaign contributions from the PEUs). Amazingly enough, those other states seem to have not exploded or decay into anarchy.

– The Federal government does not allow collective bargaining for PEUs. Interesting that no one is protesting outside of the White House or Capital building about this.

Which is why the right wing position on wages is essentially this: “The American worker ought to be paid less.” Don’t beat around the bush, say it up front.

ernesto on March 11, 2011 at 1:04 PM

Haha, I find it quaint that you use the words “American worker”. That’s so Socialistic.

Now, can you address this quote by a Democrat icon? His name was Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

In 1937, in a letter to the president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, he argued that, “All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service.”

Haven’t read through all the comments, but the labor unions are not giving up just because they lost in WI. An article on Breitbart(sorry, I don’t know how to link)says the unions are going to try and get all Right to Work laws overturned by going through the United Nations International Board. You can drive a stake through their heart, but they never die. They just keep coming back.

Yes. As it turns out, I get direct orders from George Soros to go to various right wing blogs. He pays handsomely, too.

ernesto on March 11, 2011 at 1:10 PM

Now, can you address this quote by a Democrat icon? His name was Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

In 1937, in a letter to the president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, he argued that, “All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service.”

Haven’t read through all the comments, but the labor unions are not giving up just because they lost in WI. An article on Breitbart(sorry, I don’t know how to link)says the unions are going to try and get all Right to Work laws overturned by going through the United Nations International Board. You can drive a stake through their heart, but they never die. They just keep coming back.

You talk like labor is the only thing that determines the viability of the equation. Think of what it costs to transport. I knew someone who worked in the steel industry and he new his salary and perks made the industry unsustainable.

Steveegg is right about the old bill. The bill that passed was an amended version of the ‘old bill’ essentially the SAME bill. To pass legislation as it was written before will require a brand new bill written the same way. The old text version does not exist as a bill of pending business.

I wouldn’t mind a 3rd world wage if we had 3rd world prices. Thanks to your side and its relentless fattening of bureaucratic drones, we have inflation. Inflation, not union-busting, is what’s killing the working man’s purchasing power. When will you ever learn? Oh, who am I kidding…

Which is why the right wing position on wages is essentially this: “The American worker ought to be paid less.” Don’t beat around the bush, say it up front.

ernesto on March 11, 2011 at 1:04 PM

Ernesto, I don’t have the words to tell you how much you well and truly suck at arguing.

Conservative fiscal policy will increase the buying power of the working man, even if his salary is less, by making goods and services less expensive and more affordable. Wages are only part of the picture. You could live extremely well on $3.00 an hour if your rent were $75 per month and hamburgers were 49¢.

In 1958, New York City Mayor Robert Wagner signed an executive order allowing civil workers to unionize. It was an obvious appeal to union voters. A Wagner aide suggested that city workers would be a large enough constituency to guarantee his re-election.

This opened up the floodgates around the country as other Democratic legislators followed Wagner’s lead. In 1959, Wisconsin became the first state to enact public employee collective bargaining laws. President John F. Kennedy then followed with an executive order granting federal employees the right to bargain collectively.

In other words, the main function of public employee unions is to guarantee the re-election of Democrats. Nothing more.

As you undoubtedly know, Governor Walker recently proposed a “budget adjustment bill” to eviscerate public employees’ right to collectively bargain in Wisconsin. ..

As you also know, Scott Walker did not campaign on this issue when he ran for office. If he had, we are confident that you would not be listed among his largest contributors. As such, we are contacting you now to request your support.

The undersigned groups would like your company to publicly oppose Governor Walker’s efforts to virtually eliminate collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin. While we appreciate that you may need some time to consider this request, we ask for your response by March 17. In the event that you do not respond to this request by that date, we will assume that you stand with Governor Walker and against the teachers, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, and other dedicated public employees who serve our communities.

In the event that you cannot support this effort to save collective bargaining, please be advised that the undersigned will publicly and formally boycott the
goods and services provided by your company. However, if you join us, we will do everything in our power to publicly celebrate your partnership in the fight to preserve the right of public employees to be heard at the bargaining table.

Wisconsin’s public employee unions serve to protect and promote equality and fairness in the workplace. We hope you will stand with us and publicly share that ideal.

In the event you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact the executive Director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, Jim Palmer, at 608.273.3840.

Thank you in advance for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Well they do have to realize they will be affecting the middle class non-union employees of those businesses they are boycotting. This will blow up in their faces also. Nothing like implying if your building is on fire, it might take longer to get there to put the fire out. Geeze. I bet they are doing this to all the larger businesses on their boycott list. Seeing as WEA/Delta are their medical/dental I bet they don’t strong arm Delta too much. They won’t find a better dental carrier in the country. Thugs.

Which is why the right wing position on wages is essentially this: “The American worker ought to be paid less.” Don’t beat around the bush, say it up front.

ernesto on March 11, 2011 at 1:04 PM

Sure, up and until it reaches the amount they want to pay for said service/item.

One thing you idiot leftists don’t realize is that no one wants to pay $2 for a tomato or apple. Including you idiot leftists. That’s what it would end up costing if people were to get an inflated “real wage”. But you’ll scream, b*tch and moan about it until the tomatoes and apples are $2 each and then b*tch and moan that it’s the government’s fault that they’re $2 each. And then not buy any $2 tomatoes and apples.

Idiots.

And it’s been said many times already – the unions haven’t lost their rights. As the kids would say Idiot Leftist Talking Point #152 = FAIL.

Not quite sure I understand the significance of the question??? (No, I’m not from Koreatown)

I was trying to point out to our obtuse friend that it’s not the number of dollars in the paycheck that counts, it’s what you can buy with them.

Put another way that might be clearer to our most disappointingly wooden-headed troll (disappointing because he’s at least a little smarter than growfins and crr6): If we all made a million dollars a year, but a loaf of bread cost $100,000 (see Weimar Germany), how well off would we really be?

For my two cents thrown into this. I am a former AFL-CIO trained union negotiator that represented the NEA and AFT teacher unions for my school district. I negociated three contracts of benefits and money. I learned a lot about the underside of political corruption and the games that are played out. When I sat down at the table, with the cameras rolling and reporters taking notes, I already knew what I was getting, what the school district was getting and what we were going to leave on the table. Not that anyone would know that since we gave a good redition of a viscious dog and pony show for them. I eventually decided that I was not willing to swim in that cess pool and got out.

It seems to me that everyone is ignoring the man behind the curtain in this union temper tamper and thuggary free for all with a good helping of plain old mafia style extortion. It is not about the teachers,firemen or police. Its about the unions cash cow medical insurance that they have forced the districts to buy from them, at inflated prices when compared to the same coverage in the private market. Its the cash cow that is dying, that is lossing money, that is out of a job. The teachers are being required to pay a small part of their medical and retirement, something that almost all of us do, only with not as sweet a deal. If their district goes with the private companies for the same medical coverage for less, the teachers will be paying less out of their paycheck than they would if the Union cash cow medical insurance is kept, as the unions are despert to keep happening. The taxpayers win as well since they will not be paying more in taxes to support the unions.

At this point the teacher union is just a place holder. The real concern over all is that it will spread. The best way to deal with that is to make it so bad, that other state governors and legistlators will think twice or three times before trying to follow Wisconsin lead.

So we are seeing the real colors flying. Liberals, Socialist and communist, all connected and supporting the unions. Everything they have been trying to paint the conservatives and tea party mindset with, with acts of vilolence and out right extortion and protection schemes of the best mafia organization. Leaves me wondering what they have left to paint the conservatives with, aside for being anti socialist and adament Constitutionalist.

We have no doubts of which side Obama is on this. He has personally tied himself to the unions, and the unions have clearly come out of the closet as die hard socialist and communist advocates with all the idoitcy they can muster in their desperation to stop the conservative progression in our country. To make matters worse we have seen Obama declare himself empowered to declare a law unconstitutional and relieve himself of the duty to enfore it, relieving the Supreme court as well of their sole constitutional power to decide on the constitutionality of a law. We have in recent days discovered that he and his fellow conspiratiors, have passed into law, that the HHS has the unconstitutional power to appropriate funds to state without the required constitutional authorazation of congress which has the sole power to appropriate and spend funds. To make matters worse, he has stated that if he had the dictatoral powers of the Chinese president, and immunity from having his decrees questioned, it would be easier to rule. There is also his mussing on how a king has it easier as well. Then there is that early lesson of Honduras, where he insisted that Honduras abandon their constitution and reinstate a president that was intent on ignoring it. Sort of like what he is doing now.

….every union member votes Dem 100%. So this will motivate them to vote Dem 110%? Yeah I guess it could get unionists to do more GOTV and things like that. But again, how much more can they do? They already have a finely tuned machine for GOTV as it is.

angryed on March 11, 2011 at 10:17 AM

Actually some study (quoted by Rush) said that union members vote about 49% Dem and 47% GOP, which means that the union ‘leadership’ giving something like 97% of their money to Dem candidates is going against the wishes of nearly 1/2 their members.

So there is considerable room for the union vote to swing left, unfortunately.

There needs to be a PR push by the GOP to make the union members who do vote GOP get angry about their dues money going against their political beliefs.

Conspicuously absent from NBC, ABC, CBS, MSNBC, & NPR are any mention whatsoever of death threats against GOP legislators.
If the threats were against Democrats, they’d be broadcasted all over the networks.
In fact, those networks have invented threats against Democrats, such as saying Palin’s crosshair symbol was a threat (even though a liberal site used the same symbol in the same way).